Houston-based Cheniere Energy Inc. plans to submit permit applications for two proposed Gulf Coast liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities to FERC next Monday. The facilities, if approved, would be built in Sabine Pass, LA and Corpus Christi, TX.

Both terminals have similar designs: with two loading docks, three 160,000 cubic meter tanks and the ability to import 2.5 Bcf/d of gas. Cheniere originally acquired land lease options along the Gulf Coast in 2001 and has been formalizing its plans since then (see Daily GPI, Nov. 24; June 13, 2001).

During a presentation at the Department of Energy’s LNG Ministerial Summit in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, CEO Charif Souki said Cheniere had completed “exhaustive” studies on its proposed sites, which included 13 resource reports necessary for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission applications. He said Cheniere also had conducted vessel simulations with the pilots in both locations, completed engineering designs and held several meetings with involved stakeholders in the towns where the facilities would be located.

“Every signal points to urgent needs for additional gas supplies for the United States,” he said. “We are working hard to make these two facilities operational in time for the 2007-2008 heating season. Both communities have been very supportive of our efforts.”

Cheniere LNG President Keith M. Meyer said the company has been working on these sites for three years. “We believe we can meet that date,” he said, referring to the 2007-2008 heating season timeframe.

Cheniere is a 30% limited partner in Freeport LNG Development LP, which also is developing an LNG receiving terminal in Freeport, TX. Additional information about Cheniere, including the materials it presented at the LNG Summit, may be found on its web site at www.cheniere.com.

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